Question

Health-related programs use social media for maintaining a successful health organization. On the flip side, health organization develop and implement effective strategies for emergency planning.

Do you have a Facebook account?

How do you use social media in your personal life (i.e. inspire others, keep in touch with friends and family, etc)?

Do you have an emergency plan in place for hurricane season or any other natural disaster or fire in the home? What is your plan?

Answer 1

1.Social media has both positive and negative effects on our personal life

Friends and Relations:

Social networks started as a place to connect with your friends in an easy an convenient way. Truly speaking, many of us might have found your old pals from school or college who were out of touch due to one reason or other, well I would say I have and I thank social networks for this. Social networks has provided us the opportunity to connect with people and build better relationships with friends with whom we are unable to meet personally, and let them know about our life and take input about their lives and events happening with them.

-Reducing Communication Barriers:

With social networks we are able to communicate our thoughts and perceptions over different topics with a large number of audiences, and raise our voice. The sharing feature available on the social networks makes your opinion about any topic reach huge number of people (even to those who are not on your friends list). We have the option to make groups with people who are like minded and share the related news with them and ask for their opinion or input about the topic. Simply there are a number of options available for us to communicate with others on these social networks.

-Opportunities for Businesses:

Social networks have become a crucial part of many of us. We don't even notice this but as soon as we open our desktops or laptops to access the web, we sub-consciously open our favorite social network just to see about the updates received. Businesses have noticed the value of social networks in our life, and they are using different techniques to promote their products. There are a number of customized applications being made on the social platforms, whose main purpose is to promote the product or brand. As social marketing is cost effective and brands have a huge audience, they are shifting more towards social marketing.

Negative Effects:

Leads to Addiction:

Many studies have shown that the extensive use of social media can actually cause addiction to the users. Throughout their day, they feel to post something on their pages or check others posts as it has become an important part of our life.

Lead to Isolation:

Extreme usage of social media has reduced the level of human interaction. Because of social networks the interaction with other people has become effortless and people have isolated their lives behind their online identities. Face to face communication and meetings has been reduced and many of us have lost the flavor and charm to be together under one roof.

Affecting Productivity:

Mostly businesses use social media to find and communicate with clients. But it is a great distraction to employees, who may show more interest in what their friends are posting than in their work tasks. Wired.com posted two studies which demonstrated damage to productivity caused by social networking.

2.HANDLING FIRES

Fire and You

If you are the first to see a fire at your job site, your reactions must be right for the situation. Lives may depend on your actions.

Sound the Alarm

The first step in dealing with a fire is to sound the alarm and alert others of the danger.

Assess the Situation

You may need to escape immediately. Use emergency exits.

If the fire is small and easily contained, find and use the appropriate extinguisher.

Stay near a safe exit while using the extinguisher - you may need to leave quickly if you can't control the fire. If you can't fight the fire with an extinguisher, get out fast. Close the door behind you to reduce the spread of flames and smoke.

Escape

Every worksite should have several emergency exit routes. Know your escape routes and make sure they are well marked. Do not use elevators.

Crouch low when in smoke or heat. Heat can damage your lungs. Smoke and carbon monoxide can render you unconscious. Some dangerous materials rise to the ceiling, others settle to the floor. About 1-1.2m (3-4 feet) above the floor is safest.

If you are trapped, close the doors, seal any cracks so smoke won't come in, and wait at the window. Signal for help.

Elements of Fire

It pays to know how a fire starts and what kind of fire is likely to occur in your work area. The fire pyramid in useful for learning about fire.

There are four basic elements of a fire: air, fuel, heat, and a chemical chain reaction. All four elements are needed to produce fire. Removal of one element will extinguish the fire.

Remove Heat- cool burning material below its ignition point. For example, spray water on the flame (but only it is a Class "A" fire - see Safety Tips on "Fire Extinguishers")

Remove Air- smother the fire. For example, use a multi-purpose fire extinguisher or cover the flame with dirt or a fire blanket.

Remove Fuel- shut off the flow of fuel. For example, close fuel valves, cut away combustibles to starve the fire.

Interrupt the Chain Reaction- for example, use a dry chemical fire extinguisher to alter the chain of events leading to ignition.

Fires come under one of the three international classifications. You need to know what type(s) of fire may be likely in your work area and what extinguisher to use.

Class A - fires that occur in combustible materials such as paper, wood, straw and cloth.
Class B - fires that occur over the surface of flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease.
Class C - fires that occur in electrical equipment

Home Fires

Handling a fire at home depends on having safety procedures in place. Fire extinguishers in the kitchen, basement, and garage are good starting points. With a nearby extinguisher you may be able to limit damage or put out a small fire. A properly functioning smoke detector will give a head start - don't ever disconnect it - and test it regularly.

Don't take chances. Dont try to fight a fire alone at work - don't do it at home either. Get out fast and call the fire department from a nearby home. Make the safety of children a priority. Get them out immediately.

Practicing fire drills with your kids will help you and them in a crisis. Let them take charge and lead the exercise with your guidance. This will help them remember safe procedures in a real emergency. Everyone should know the proper escape procedures in case of a fire.

You can do other things to improve home safety. Get in the habit of turning off stove burners. Be especially careful if you smoke - keep matches or lighters in a safe place that is out of the reach of children.

Planning is the key to home fire safety. Remember the slogan "plan to get out alive"